top of page

"The Panzer IV Saw Service In All Combat Theatres Involving Germany..."

Writer's picture: BlaxklericBlaxkleric

Updated: Apr 10, 2023


"...And was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war."

This plastic 15mm Panzerkampfwagen IV is manufactured by “Battlefront Miniatures” and is one of three found inside the company’s “Hit The Beach” starter set for “Flames Of War”. The model consists of a medium tank equipped with "Bazooka Skirts", and is the fifth fully-tracked armoured vehicle needed to complete my full-strength 28-point strong German Panzer IV Tank Platoon.


Originally primed with two layers of "Vallejo" German Grey, the model was subsequently shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" German Grey, and then more lightly dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Sombre Grey. I next 'picked out' the Panzer IVs' spade, stowage, machine-gun, muffler and tow-cable using appropriate combinations of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, "Citadel" Nuln Oil", "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst its tracks were tied in to my usual basing with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade.

"The US Army Ordnance Department designed the M4 medium tank as a replacement for the M3 tank."

In addition, I rather fancied having this particular tank carry a passenger, so glued a spare crew member from one of my 7.5cm Anti-Tank Gun teams onto the front - as if he was either directing the vehicle or telling someone to get out of the way during manoeuvres. The plastic figure was undercoated in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded using “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Their details were later pigmented predominantly using “Vallejo” Gunmetal, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Brown and a series of “Citadel” Shades.


Alongside the latest addition to my German D-Day Beach Defence Grenadier Company, I have also finished another 10mm metal American medium tank which used to be sold by “Pendraken Miniatures” as Code A10 - Sherman M4A4, no skirts, 75mm gun. This particular sculpt appears to have now been superseded by a much more detailed product under Code AMV30 - M4 Sherman, 75mm and was bought as part of a much larger 'Battle Of The Bulge' project purchase to use alongside my already fully-painted German and Soviet World War Two Winter armies.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - Four primed Aquaphibians awaiting the second of their shades & a dry-brush

The model was initially treated to a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before receiving two layers of "Vallejo" USA Olive Drab, a wash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" USA Olive Drab. I then applied a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to its tracks, before repainting some of its prominent wheel mechanisms with (even more) "Vallejo" USA Olive Drab and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.


Lastly, I have made a bit more progress on a handful of 3D printed Aquaphibians produced by "Big Mr Tong", courtesy of a "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green shade. My plan is to paint a fifteen-figure strong force of this "aquatic humanoid species from the Supermarionation series Stingray", along with a Terror Fish or two, so I'm using this first batch as a test for a reasonably straightforward colour scheme which I can then apply across the rest of Mike Tongue's miniatures...

Recent Posts

See All

6 Komentar

Dinilai 0 dari 5 bintang.
Belum ada penilaian

Tambahkan penilaian
wsd50
10 Apr 2023

Great work on the tanks mate, they have come out really well, but I have to say as a missive Gerry Ander"fan" that those Aquaphibians are freaking Awesome!!


Cheers Roger.

Suka
Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
10 Apr 2023
Membalas kepada

Thanks Roger. I do like painting the FoW German Panzers now I've settled upon an all-grey palette, and the little 10mm Shermans are a blast too.


I've actually printed out a few more Aquaphibians than I need, Roger, so I'll pop a couple into that bitz box I've set aside for you. 😀

Suka

undercoat2670
09 Apr 2023

Good job on both tanks. I note your comments about the 10mm one being upgraded as it doesn't compare well to the 15mm FoW one when you see them both together like this. I love the addition of the soldier on the Panzer tank. He adds a lot of character to it. Great but if conversion work. The Aquaphibians are coming along nicely. They are very characterful! Is your second share going to be a different colour?


Suka
Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
09 Apr 2023
Membalas kepada

Cheers Undercoat. The sculpting on the 10mm Sherman is definitely showing its age around the tracks etc. It's quite hard to work out what's wheel, driving mechanism and track in some places. Luckily, both the snow and palette hide a fair few of these sins. 😊


The Aquaphibians will be getting some brown and purple shades, as well as having some of their areas pigmented in a darker green. Then I plan to give them an all over dry-brush of their initial base colour to bring it all together before doing their weapons. I wanted something reasonably effective but simply too - as I have fifteen of the fellows to paint.

Suka

wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
07 Apr 2023

Fantastic work on the two tanks in both scales Simon, you seem to be motoring through them at the moment. The Aquaphibians are progressing well, and you seem to moving quite quickly through them.

Suka
Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
07 Apr 2023
Membalas kepada

Thanks Dave. That's the last of the Panzer IVs - at least until I do either another platoon or theatre. Still got a two more 10mm Shermans to post and that'll be the entire little find all painted/based. The Aquaphibians are something of a slow-burn project until I finish off the final two 7.5cm Anti-Tank guns I need for next week's FoW game. Then it'll be full-steam ahead.

Suka

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

©2020 by Fantorical. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page